Local Guide

The New Orleans Open strives to cater to our attendees every need. We don’t want you to work so hard that you need a vacation after our events, we want you to make our event part of your vacation. We provide many ways to dance and compete for BIG awards and prizes and while you’re off the dance floor, we want you to enjoy what the venue has to offer as well as all of the local attactions. Here are a few of the amazing places you’ll be surrounded by while at the New Orleans Open Dancesport Championships in New Orleans, LA. We encourage you to take time for yourself, relax those dancing feet after competing all day…after all, you deserve it!

  • French Quarter – Hotel is located in the French Quarter – Website
  • Mardi Gras World – 2 miles / 6 min. – (504) 361-7821 – Website
  • Audubon Institute Insectarium – 0.4 miles / 2 min. – (504) 581-4629 – Website
  • Audubon Institute Aquarium of the Americas – 0.66 miles / 2 min. – (504) 581-4629 Website
  • Audubon Institute Zoo – 4 miles / 15 min. – (504) 581-4629 Website
  • Magazine Street – 4 miles / 12 min. – Website

Important Notice to all Participants: Please make your airline reservation early, because of the Easter Holiday or stay over and enjoy one of New Orleans great Easter Brunches. Trust me you’ll not regret this!! Enjoy this “online concierge”. A great way to make plans for your New Orleans trip by enjoying interviews, rebroadcasts, pictures, recommendations, safety tips and the beauty of New Orleans.

New Orleans charms with its energy and community spirit: Dixieland jazz, laid-back locals, cherished architecture and a distinctive French flair.

Lashed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans continues to rebuild. Meanwhile, in true Southern style, the city embraces the mantra “let the good times roll.” You’ll find the locals relaxed, and unhurried, always ready for a chat, and embodying the spirit of the city’s nickname, “The Big Easy.”

New Orleans sits on the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana. It was founded in 1718 by Phillippe d’Orleans, then the Regent of France. The city was under Spanish control for decades before it passed back into French hands, and then was sold to the United States in 1803.

A magnet for immigrants, the city attracted sugar and cotton workers from France, Ireland, Germany and Africa. Today you’ll find it a multicultural blend of Creoles, African Americans and French-speaking locals.

Go to the French Quarter to see the rattling streetcars made famous in Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire. This lively area is known for its ornate, Spanish Colonial architecture. Each year, leading up to Lent, the French Quarter hosts the colorful Mardi Gras festivities, said to have started as early as 1743.

While in the quarter, stop by the famous Café du Monde, beloved for chicory-laced cafe au lait and French-style beignets. From here, cross the road to Jackson Square. This beautiful park has been a popular hangout for artists since the early 1920s. Today, it’s home to painters, tarot readers, musicians, street performers and classic Creole cuisine. Sample traditional food, including po’boy sandwiches, fresh Louisiana crawfish, spicy gumbo, jambalaya stews and sugary pralines.

Don’t miss a night out on iconic Bourbon Street , known for its nightspots, cafes, strip joints and jazz clubs. Venues here have hosted many famous musicians, including Louis Armstrong, a New Orleans native.

New Orleans also has strong ties to a strain of Voodoo religion that is still practiced by a handful of locals. You can take a voodoo-themed tours of the infamous St. Louis Cemetery, while Lafayette Cemetery is a popular location for movie shoots.

Getting around is easy, though, as the city is flat and ideal for walking. Alternatively, jump on a streetcar for an inexpensive bit of fun. Several lines originate in Downtown and cover most of the areas you will want to visit. At night, find a cab at a cab-stands and hotels, or telephone one and it will generally arrive fairly quickly. Driving in New Orleans is not recommended. Parking spaces are scarce and expensive, and finding your way is sometimes difficult with many one-way streets and a rather complicated layout.

For more details on interesting local attractions and activities, check out our things to do in New Orleans page .